Albanian Parliament Speaker visits Athens amid EU accession talks and regional tensions

Albanian Parliament Speaker Nikos Peleshi arrived in Athens on Monday for an official visit aimed at bolstering relations between Albania and Greece. His visit coincides with Greek Foreign Minister's upcoming tour of the Western Balkans, which seeks to accelerate the EU accession process for six Balkan nations, including Albania.

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Geography and history unite us, we share a common Mediterranean bond and a mutual desire to love what we build together. Ultimately, it is about providing stronger institutional depth to this natural human bond, building on the positive political momentum of recent months, including the discussions between Prime Ministers Rama and Mitsotakis for a future Strategic Partnership between our two countries.

Peleshi's trip to the Greek capital comes in the wake of an incident in which a Greek citizen was injured in Albania. Greece's Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement following the event, underscoring the importance of protecting the rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania as a prerequisite for the country's EU membership.

From the Albanian side, Peleshi's carefully planned visit is seen as an opportunity to de-escalate recent mild tensions and restore positive momentum in Greek-Albanian relations. He highlighted in an article for "Ta Nea" that the core of his visit is to enhance relations between the two countries and their peoples, emphasizing shared geography, history, and a mutual desire to build together.

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Greece's consistent support on this path is deeply appreciated. And of course, this visit will strengthen parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, marking the first official bilateral visit of the President of the Albanian Parliament to Athens in almost a decade.

Peleshi expressed Albania's commitment to completing EU accession negotiations by 2027 and achieving full membership by 2030. He also stressed the significance of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, describing them as an integral part of society and a bridge between the two nations, mirroring the role of the Albanian community in Greece. This visit marks the first official bilateral trip by the Albanian Parliament Speaker to Athens in nearly a decade, aiming to strengthen parliamentary dialogue and cooperation.

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Regarding the ethnic Greek minority in our country, we have always been clear that the Greek minority in Albania is an integral part of our society and a living bridge between our two nations, just like the Albanian community in Greece. We are truly blessed to have such close human ties and exchanges.